Farage: PM 'has no intention' of facing me in TV debate

Ukip leader Nigel Farage claimed David Cameron "has no intention" of facing him in a TV debate in the run-up to next year's General Election. His comments come after a report suggested Mr Cameron "has not ruled out" a TV debate with Mr Farage.

Speaking on the Sky News Murnaghan programme, Mr Shapps said negotiations on the format and timing of debates would not begin until the autumn.

But he said: "We think the debates were a good innovation, they were something new at the last General Election.

"There was a bit of a problem they all took place during the General Election, people across the country didn't get to see the party leaders and the debate properly in their local area.

"It's quite possible not to bunch them up in a campaign now we know the election date is May 7. Beyond that there is no negotiations under way, that will have to wait until the back of this year. All options are on the table right now."

The Prime Minister "has not ruled out" a debate with Mr Farage in the run-up to next year's election, according to The Sunday Times (£).

However, the Ukip leader told The Andrew Marr show: "I think what David Cameron does very often, is make these promises - vague promises - and then doesn't deliver afterwards. I don't think he's [David Cameron] got any intention of allowing me into any of these debates."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was the broadcasters decision as to who was involved in the debates but added he did not want Mr Cameron "to wriggle out" of them.

He said: "We've got to have debates like we did during the last election, I think David Cameron is doing everything he can to wriggle out of them...it's up to the broadcasters who they invite, whether they invite Nigel [Farage] or not, my main desire is that the debates go ahead."

David Cameron "has not ruled out" a TV debate with Ukip leader Nigel Farage as part of a series of broadcast showdowns ahead of the 2015 election, The Sunday Times (£) reported.

David Cameron could take part in a pre-election TV debate with Nigel Farage, it was reported. Credit: PA

Under the "2-3-5" format drawn up by his aides, Mr Cameron would hold one head-to-head debate with the Labour leader - as the other potential prime minister - a second, which would also include Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg and a third with Mr Farage and the Green party leader Natalie Bennett.

A No 10 source said: "It is speculation on what might happen in talks that are not going to happen for several months."We have not ruled anything in or out, so that means people can speculate what might happen in the talks."But the reality is these talks are several months away."